Mumbai, March 31: In light of ongoing conflicts in West Asia leading to a shortage of cooking gas, Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal issued a stern warning on Monday. He stated that residents in areas where piped gas is available must switch to piped natural gas. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of their existing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders.
Consumers have been given a three-month window to apply for piped natural gas connections, with the deadline set for June 30.
This decision comes amid concerns over LPG cylinder shortages due to rising tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Minister Bhujbal emphasized that both residential and commercial users must apply for piped natural gas connections within the next three months. Applications received by June 30 should be approved immediately. Relevant authorities have been instructed to enhance coordination with gas companies and expedite the processing of these applications.
He mentioned that in urban areas like Mumbai, Pune, and Thane, where piped natural gas pipelines are already in place, the government intends to halt the supply of LPG cylinders by June 30, 2026.
Residents in these areas are urged to apply for piped connections without delay. He suggested that, similar to water and electricity connections, obtaining a piped natural gas connection should be made mandatory for new residential and commercial buildings when applying for occupancy certificates.
Minister Bhujbal stressed that piped natural gas is cheaper and safer than LPG cylinders. This initiative aims to reduce the state’s dependence on imported fuels and streamline urban energy distribution.
To expedite implementation, the state has issued a directive stating that if the permission to lay gas pipelines is not processed within 24 hours, it will be considered ‘approved.’ Local bodies have been encouraged to waive certain renovation fees to promote rapid expansion.
He clarified that this order applies only to areas where the gas infrastructure is already operational.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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